*Note that the text between the ~ are Emily's thoughts.
Chapter One: The Suitors
At least once in every person's life, he or she feels like their life has already been written out and that there is no room for individuality. He or she feels unwanted most of the time and sometimes wanted only for the wrong reasons. That is how I feel every day. I long to go out independently into the world, without caring what people say. This is the story of how one wonderful man has changed and saved my life.
~~~~
"Port Royal is absolutely beautiful! 'Tis a pity that we cannot stay here long." I heard my father tell me. I nodded politely and smiled in forced agreement. ~Yeah, it's a wonderful place if you are a high-toned, rich, and fancy person.~
My father continued on with his usual pompous jammering. I couldn't stand it. I loved my father, but he had a horrible habit of writing my agenda. He also believes that he truly knows me. Honestly, the only people who knew me less were the stupid suitors that my father had me meet. ~Stupid hypocrites, those suitors.~
"King Harry," one of our maids addressed my father. "Davis Punnings has already arrived to meet your daughter, Princess Emily Harrington" ~Oh great, another rich and respectable git who probably wants to marry just to become the king. I am so thrilled.~
"Is he really?" My father asked bewilderedly. "Well Emily, you had better get dressed. Davis is here early." ~Honestly, he should be expecting them to be. They are always here early.~
"Your Highness," the timid maid said nervously. "I found Emily's corsets torn to shreds. I do not believe we have anymore."
"Goodness, and Emily absolutely loves those corsets!" My father replied astounded. ~Pah! It was me who tore up all of my corsets with the kitchen shears!~
"At least we do have spares that once belonged to her mother!" He exclaimed joyfully. ~Damn! I forgot about those!~ I smiled and said my ironic thank yous.
After I dressed, I walked down the grand staircase to greet this suitor. He was standing seemingly patiently by the door. He looked just the same as all of the other suitors and respectable people in England. Davis Punnings, ~(that was his name, right?),~ was tall and handsome with fair skin. Like most men, he wore an obviously fake powdered wig. ~Honestly, who was he trying to fool? I can even see a little bit of his natural dark brown hair.~ Davis was dressed in lovely and expensive clothes. ~Yeah, nice tights and high-heels.~ As soon as he realized I was there he smiled brightly and walked over to the foot of the stairs and held out his hand. ~Hmmm, let me guess, you are going to tell me how lovely I look, kiss my hand politely, and invite me to the courtyard.~
"Princess Emily, you look absolutely lovely." He took my hand and kissed it gently. "Would you like to go out to the courtyard?" ~They are all the same.~ I nodded and reluctantly took his hand. As we were walking outside, I wiped the hand he had kissed on my dress.
~~~~
He took me to the extravagant garden, full of life and color. I absorbed the somewhat familiar scenery. There seemed to be hundreds of flowers and other flora dancing brilliantly in the light breeze. It was a painting of all imaginable colors. I looked beyond the black iron fence and watched the people walk by freely, a huge variety of people, respectable, poor, strange, and some rugged ones. I was trapped in a seemingly beautiful cell guarded by my father's best men. I was also standing next to my arrogant torturer, Davis.
"Emily, you're dress is very stunning, especially on you." He complimented me after a long and silent pause. ~Oh, would you like to try it on? I think you will love the corset.~ He continued, "you look radiant amongst these bright flowers." ~I bet you got that from a book.~ Unfortunately, the string orchestra started playing. Davis smiled at my father who was obviously responsible.
"May I have this dance?" He asked. ~Nope.~ "Of course." ~Shit.~ Davis took my hand and I slowly put my other on his shoulder. It was a soft, light song, and we were dancing in harmony with it. I looked past the fence again. A crowd of people had come to watch and listen to the music. I blushed furiously and tried to avert my gaze, but one man caught my eye. Davis turned me around so fast that I couldn't get a better look at him. By the time I came back around, he was gone.
"You are a graceful dancer, Emily." He whispered in my ear.
"Thank you Davis, but I must say, you are definitely much better." He blushed. ~Yeah, but I would so much rather hurl right now. If you don't mind I would very much like to upchuck into your silly hat and chuck it at the annoying spectators.~ I couldn't take this torture any longer. The audience was now beginning to dance and gossip. They probably thought we were sweet together. ~That's it!~
"I'm terribly sorry Davis," ~no I'm not,~ "but I must leave you. I have to be somewhere." It was a very vague and general lie, but he soaked it up like a sponge. His smile faded a little, but he understood.
"May I see you tomorrow in the evening." He asked hopefully.
"Of course you may. I look forward to seeing you." ~Yeah, if it is at your funeral.~ He turned away after kissing my hand good-bye. ~My poor hand.~ As soon as he was gone, I hurried to my bedroom and changed into my work clothes. ~Which, by the way, my father doesn't know that I have peasant clothes.~
Chapter One: The Suitors
At least once in every person's life, he or she feels like their life has already been written out and that there is no room for individuality. He or she feels unwanted most of the time and sometimes wanted only for the wrong reasons. That is how I feel every day. I long to go out independently into the world, without caring what people say. This is the story of how one wonderful man has changed and saved my life.
~~~~
"Port Royal is absolutely beautiful! 'Tis a pity that we cannot stay here long." I heard my father tell me. I nodded politely and smiled in forced agreement. ~Yeah, it's a wonderful place if you are a high-toned, rich, and fancy person.~
My father continued on with his usual pompous jammering. I couldn't stand it. I loved my father, but he had a horrible habit of writing my agenda. He also believes that he truly knows me. Honestly, the only people who knew me less were the stupid suitors that my father had me meet. ~Stupid hypocrites, those suitors.~
"King Harry," one of our maids addressed my father. "Davis Punnings has already arrived to meet your daughter, Princess Emily Harrington" ~Oh great, another rich and respectable git who probably wants to marry just to become the king. I am so thrilled.~
"Is he really?" My father asked bewilderedly. "Well Emily, you had better get dressed. Davis is here early." ~Honestly, he should be expecting them to be. They are always here early.~
"Your Highness," the timid maid said nervously. "I found Emily's corsets torn to shreds. I do not believe we have anymore."
"Goodness, and Emily absolutely loves those corsets!" My father replied astounded. ~Pah! It was me who tore up all of my corsets with the kitchen shears!~
"At least we do have spares that once belonged to her mother!" He exclaimed joyfully. ~Damn! I forgot about those!~ I smiled and said my ironic thank yous.
After I dressed, I walked down the grand staircase to greet this suitor. He was standing seemingly patiently by the door. He looked just the same as all of the other suitors and respectable people in England. Davis Punnings, ~(that was his name, right?),~ was tall and handsome with fair skin. Like most men, he wore an obviously fake powdered wig. ~Honestly, who was he trying to fool? I can even see a little bit of his natural dark brown hair.~ Davis was dressed in lovely and expensive clothes. ~Yeah, nice tights and high-heels.~ As soon as he realized I was there he smiled brightly and walked over to the foot of the stairs and held out his hand. ~Hmmm, let me guess, you are going to tell me how lovely I look, kiss my hand politely, and invite me to the courtyard.~
"Princess Emily, you look absolutely lovely." He took my hand and kissed it gently. "Would you like to go out to the courtyard?" ~They are all the same.~ I nodded and reluctantly took his hand. As we were walking outside, I wiped the hand he had kissed on my dress.
~~~~
He took me to the extravagant garden, full of life and color. I absorbed the somewhat familiar scenery. There seemed to be hundreds of flowers and other flora dancing brilliantly in the light breeze. It was a painting of all imaginable colors. I looked beyond the black iron fence and watched the people walk by freely, a huge variety of people, respectable, poor, strange, and some rugged ones. I was trapped in a seemingly beautiful cell guarded by my father's best men. I was also standing next to my arrogant torturer, Davis.
"Emily, you're dress is very stunning, especially on you." He complimented me after a long and silent pause. ~Oh, would you like to try it on? I think you will love the corset.~ He continued, "you look radiant amongst these bright flowers." ~I bet you got that from a book.~ Unfortunately, the string orchestra started playing. Davis smiled at my father who was obviously responsible.
"May I have this dance?" He asked. ~Nope.~ "Of course." ~Shit.~ Davis took my hand and I slowly put my other on his shoulder. It was a soft, light song, and we were dancing in harmony with it. I looked past the fence again. A crowd of people had come to watch and listen to the music. I blushed furiously and tried to avert my gaze, but one man caught my eye. Davis turned me around so fast that I couldn't get a better look at him. By the time I came back around, he was gone.
"You are a graceful dancer, Emily." He whispered in my ear.
"Thank you Davis, but I must say, you are definitely much better." He blushed. ~Yeah, but I would so much rather hurl right now. If you don't mind I would very much like to upchuck into your silly hat and chuck it at the annoying spectators.~ I couldn't take this torture any longer. The audience was now beginning to dance and gossip. They probably thought we were sweet together. ~That's it!~
"I'm terribly sorry Davis," ~no I'm not,~ "but I must leave you. I have to be somewhere." It was a very vague and general lie, but he soaked it up like a sponge. His smile faded a little, but he understood.
"May I see you tomorrow in the evening." He asked hopefully.
"Of course you may. I look forward to seeing you." ~Yeah, if it is at your funeral.~ He turned away after kissing my hand good-bye. ~My poor hand.~ As soon as he was gone, I hurried to my bedroom and changed into my work clothes. ~Which, by the way, my father doesn't know that I have peasant clothes.~